After a rather long period of ‘testing’ in the NZ AppStore (one whole month!) Plants vs. Zombies 2 finally launches in the rest of the world.This sequel offers more of everything you’ve seen in the original and we have been having fun with it ever since its early release. Playing it intensively is not just fun; it is mandatory in order to advance in the game. Since it has gone freemium, certain new rules -such as revisiting levels to take on missions- have been applied and none of these are intrusive. In fact, missions really add to the abundance of content available and cast heaps of fun on an already successful formula. Above all, playing for free offers more challenges and fun than unlocking ‘premium’ content with real money.

Plants vs. Zombies 2 is available now as a universal download for free. Get it in theAppStore

Consequently, our advice is to never spend one Dollar in the game. You heard that right: Plants vs. Zombies 2 is more fun without paying.

Beyond the classic

To start with, there’s the classic Plants vs. Zombies gameplay, where you aid the undead in decomposing with a wide variety of plants and repel them from your front door. Then there are the mini games, including a form of speed-memory. Added to the main plants are special power-ups, which enable you to flick zombies in the air, squish them by pinching or fry the brainless with lightning bolts. Some of these power-ups remind of the iOS game Zombie Smash and using these godly tools of destruction is fully optional. It’s also a lot of fun and they certainly help overcome hordes of zombies as a last resort, but do cost a considerable amount of in-game coins. Luckily, in-game money never really gets sparse.

Plants vs. Zombies 2 is huge. Levels are scattered among three worlds, all very different in style and appearance. Crossing a map in these worlds shows just how extended a region is: besides instantly accessible levels, there are several side paths and extra levels unlocked by collecting stars and keys. Each world offers challenges and several new plants to discover, making it very interesting to cover as much ground as possible.

The wrap (up)

The story of Plants vs. Zombies 2 is completely nuts, seeing that it revolves around Crazy Dave and his shenanigans. Dave wants to relive a special moment with a taco and ends up in Egyptian times, thanks to a time machine called Penny. Along the way, there’s Yetis to hunt, plants to discover and Egyptian, Pirate and Western-themed lawns to protect. After completing the first eleven levels, backtracking is required to collect the stars that fuel a special Stargate leading to other eras. Plants vs. Zombies 2, like its predecessor, is still all about the strategic placement of fire-breathing, butter-throwing and essentially ass-kicking plants. Every round is as satisfying as the last one and the amount of missions will keep you playing until empty batteries instigate a forced break.

Since the original game invaded computers and mobiles all over the world (back in 2009), PopCap has become a household name. With Plants vs. Zombies 2 they nailed it again, with excellent gameplay, cartoonesque cutscenes and tons of levels that never bore. The freemium aspect is hardly noticeable, as you plow through tens of levels without feeling forced to pay up. Requests to revisit levels (in order to gain more stars) are happily obliged and result in more enjoyable moments. For real fans the game is an immense treat, for newcomers it may just be their most addictive experience on a mobile device this year.

Tired of annoying calls from exes or telemarketers? Fear not. These steps will teach you how to block calls to your home or cell phone for the most popular carriers in North America. You will also learn how to join lists that make it illegal for telemarketers to call you in a variety of English-speaking countries.

How to Block a Phone Number

AT&T and Verizon Residential

1. Dial “*60” from your home phone.
2. You will hear a recording that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to add a number to your blocked numbers list. Follow these directions.
3. Listen to the instructions for how to disable call blocking.
4. Hang up the phone.

AT&T Wireless

This service carries a monthly cost per line, and allows you to add up to 30 numbers to your Blocked Numbers list.

2. Under the “Smart Solutions” tab, select “AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless.”
3. After you select this option, you will be guided through a series of prompts. Enter the appropriate information to add the Smart Limits feature to your account.
Alternatively, you can add Smart Limits by calling AT&T Customer Service at 1-800-331-0500, or by visiting your local AT&T Retail Store.
4. Once you have added Smart Limits to your wireless account, you are ready to begin adding numbers to you Blocked List. To do so, first go to the “Smart Limits for Wireless” page in your myAT&T.
5. Select the “Blocked Numbers” tab under the “Controls” list for the appropriate wireless number.
6. In the “Add New phone numbers” field, enter the 3-digit area code and 7-digit phone number that you wish to block.
7. Click “Submit” to add this number to you Blocked List.
This will block both calls and text messages from the selected number.

Sprint Wireless

1. Go to http://www.sprint.com. Log in to your “My Sprint” account.
2. Click the “My Preferences” tab.
3. Click “Block voice” under “Limits and Permissions”.
4. Select the phone for which you wish to add blocked numbers. A green check mark indicates the selected phone.
5. Select “Block only the following phone numbers for inbound and outbound calls”. Enter the number that you want to block in the appropriate field, and click “Add number”. You will see the number added to the list, and you can remove it by clicking “Remove”.
6. Click the green check mark to indicate that you are done setting the level of restriction.
7. Click “Save”.
8. Turn your phone off and back on to activate the changes.

National Do Not Call Registry (USA)

1. Go to https://www.donotcall.gov. This will take you to the site for the National Do Not Call Registry. Once you add yourself to this list, it is illegal for telemarketers to call you.
2. Click the “Register A Phone Number” tab on the left side of the page.
3. Enter your phone number and email address, and then confirm your email address and click “Submit.”
You can enter up to 3 phone numbers to add to the registry.
4. On the next page, check for errors in the information you just entered, and then click “Register.”
5. Check your email. You will have a message from Register@donotcall.gov that contains a link. Click on the link to complete your registration.
You can also add yourself to the Do Not Call Registry by phone using these steps.
Call 1-888-382-1222.
Make sure that you call from the phone number that you wish to add to the registry.
6. Choose your language. If you want your instructions to be in English press “1.” For Spanish, press “2.”
Enter your phone number. You will be prompted to enter your 3-digit area code and your 7-digit phone number. After a brief pause, a message will tell you that you have been added to the registry. Note that it takes 31 days for your registry to become complete.

National Do Not Call List (Canada)

1. Go to https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/index-eng. This will take you to the site for Canada’s National Do Not Call List. By joining this list, you make it illegal for telemarketers to call you.
2. Click on the “Register My Number” button under “I am a Consumer” on the left side of the page.
3. At the bottom of the page, enter the 3-digit area code and 7-digit phone number that you wish to add to the list. Click “Continue.”
You can add residential, mobile, fax, or VoIP numbers to the DNCL.
4. On the next page, confirm that the number you have entered is correct. Then type in the characters that appear in the “Characters” field. If you cannot read the characters, click “Too difficult? Try another” to generate another set of characters. If you made an error in typing the phone number, click “Change Number” and enter the correct one. Click “Register.”
5. On the next page, you will be able to read important information about the DNCL. To finish registration, click “Continue.”
6. The next page will confirm your registration. If you wish to add another number, click “Register Another Number” and repeat the process.

Do Not Call Register (Australia)

1.Go to https://www.donotcall.gov.au. This will take you to the site for Australia’s Do Not Call Register. By joining this list, you make it illegal for telemarketers to call you.
2. Click on the “Online Registration” button in the middle of the page.
3. On the Start page, confirm that you are an account holder or are authorized to act for the an account holder. Select the appropriate radio button (my number, family or friend’s number, etc.) and click “Continue.”
4. Enter your first name, last name, email address, and confirm email. Click “Next.”
5. Enter the phone number(s) you wish to register. You can enter up to 20 numbers. Check the box next to the number entry field if your number is a fax or phone/fax. Click “Next.”
6. On the Confirm Details page, check the box that indicates “I have read and agree with these statements.” Then enter the text that appears in the box at the bottom of the page into the text field. Click “Submit.”
7. Check your email. Open up the message from the Do Not Call Register. Click on the link in the email to confirm your registration.

Telephone Preference Service (United Kingdom)

1. Go to http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html. This will take you to the site for the Telephone Preference Service. By signing up for this service, you make it illegal for telemarketers to call you.
2. Click the “Register” button on the left side of the page.
3. Select the option that applies to the number you wish to register (Residential, Partnership, etc.). Click “Continue.”
4. Enter the number that you wish to register. Click “Continue.”
5. Enter the postcode of the address you wish to register and click “Continue.”
6. Follow the steps to complete your registration.
Do Not Call List (New Zealand)

1. Go to http://marketing.org.nz. This allows you to sign up for the Name Removal Service.
Note: the New Zealand Name Removal Service is run by the Marketing Association of New Zealand, not the government. It only prevents you from receiving telemarketing calls from the members of the Marketing Association
2. Click on the link that says “Click here to add yourself to the Do Not Call List.”
3. Enter your first name, last name, phone number, and postal address in the appropriate fields. Check the box at the bottom of the page next to “I Agree” and click on the “Save” box.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is an amazing piece of technology but not very good on battery life. I realised this as soon as i started to use it after giving the battery a good charging.

With a battery size of 2,600mAh, one of the best in any mobile phone, you'd think that it would last a while. What you have to consider is that some of the new technology that these new gadgets carry more powerful and use more battery life when in use or not in use.

I had the issue of the battery draining really fast even when the phone was off. I then decided to make a few customisations on my new Samsung Galaxy S4 which would help improve the battery life.

Customisations Will Improve Battery Life

Tests on the Samsung Galaxy S4 suggested that the full charge will last up to 63 hours, which is a lot.

The customisations below will improve the battery life of the phone and you will see the difference instantly.

Change the brightness - By reducing the brightness of the screen should improve the battery life.

Change the background wallpaper - A darker wallpaper will save battery power compared to a brighter and more colourful screen as a brighter screen image uses more light.

Live Wallpaper - A live wallpaper is the one where images move in the wallpaper which drains the battery of the Samsung Galaxy S4 considerably. Try to use a still image instead. An animated wallpaper uses more battery life.

WiFi & Bluetooth - Deactivate the use of WiFi and Bluetooth when not in need of using it. If WiFi and Bluethooth is on in the background, the phone is still searching for connections.

GPS & NFC - If you're not using GPS or NFC then switch these off too. Basically if there is something you do not need then it can be switched off and you will save a considerable amount of battery life.

Under Charge/Over Charge - Do not under charge/over charge as this will hamper the battery life. If you do charge the battery then make sure you charge it fully up to 100% in one charge. If you do take the charger off, then do not put it back on again straight away. Give it at least another half an hour.

Use Power Saving Mode - The Power Saving Mode will conserve the life of the battery.

Exposure - Never expose your phone to extreme temperatures, hot or cold. This means to not put it directly in sunlight or leave it in your glove box on a freezing cold day.

Under the Pillow - I advise you not to put your Galaxy S4 under your pillow at night or any time. This is because if you haven't done any of the above, then you're phone and battery may heat up. Let it breath.

Do Not Use when on Charge - Try not to use your Samsung Galaxy S4 while it is on charge. I've noticed that the battery heats up and the battery doesn't charge up quick enough.

You would think that Samsung would recommend you to do all of the above and maybe more to preserve battery life, but they want you to use their product and all of it's features. This makes sense from their point of view, but sometimes you have to compromise and make a few tweaks to make things work in your advantage.

I hope this list of tips on how to improve Samsung Galaxy S4 battery life is helpful.

Google is not holding back by integrating most of the useful features in its Android OS. Tech pundits firmly say that Google’s Android platform is one of the most flexible OS. The open source nature of the OS lets you tweak the system in whatever way you want, and gives you a full control over the system. But are you in the real control? The same question pique one of our reader’s mind, who just started using the Android system after giving some thought. After trying out some of the must have android apps, he was looking to uninstall Android apps in bulk. There is no way to uninstall apps in bulk through the settings or other system options. Therefore, we would like to lead him to the following application which does the job perfectly.

Google Play store or marketplace offers tons of utility for Android, which helps you to tweak your Android device in whatever way you want. Unlike Apple, Google embraces the developers who offer useful system tweaks and jailbreak apps. Probably, this is why Android is said to be giving you complete, well almost, control over your system. Apple usually tries to curb any movement that tried to go into the root of the system. Well, this is the reason why he opted for Android OS. Even if you’re new to Android community, then you’d probably want to visit our Android section to start enjoying it to its core. Have you started feeling bored of Android apps after testing them for a month or so? Now, you have to uninstall those apps one by one in case if you do not what Easy Uninstaller is.

Easy Uninstaller comes to your rescue in such dire situation. It empowers you to select multiple applications at a shot and then delete them with a single click. Such an application serves the basic purpose of uninstalling Android apps in the bulk. It claims to save 90% of your time spent behind the taps and selecting applications one by one. As the description says, it is simplistic & fastest uninstall tool for android. However, there are certain limitations. For example, there is no way to uninstall preloaded or protected apps. There is an app called “root uninstall” which lets you even uninstall preloaded apps. As you would have probably guessed, you would need root access before performing the above operation. Apart from batch uninstall, it also supports app search and sorting option.

Easy Uninstaller Features

Support for batch app uninstall

Fast uninstall by one click

Show application information like name, version, size etc.

Search app by name

Sort applications

Share application with your friends on various networks

Search Google Play store right from the application

In short, Easy uninstaller is a must have Android application. If you are one of those who like to try out many applications, before settling to desired app, should try out this application. It will help in reducing the time spent behind uninstalling them. In the past, we covered completely different app for Windows Phone users, which lets user install multiple applications automatically. Unfortunately, there is no such app for Android users. Of course, they can log in to their Google Play store account and install apps. In this case, you will be required to reinstall them from backup. Such application exists in the Google play store that allows people to reinstall apps from the backup. It is a good companion of the above application.

Easy Uninstall app can also list the application installed on SD card. If you do not see all the apps in the list, perhaps, you should re-scan them after clearing the cache. It is ad-supported version. Ad free version is also available in the market. Grab it from Google play store.